AFRIKAKORPS
"Deutsches AFRIKAKORPS" Allies & AFRIKAKORPS North Africa & Mediterranean Theater of Operations Campaign Research Group
The "Deutsches AFRIKAKORPS" (not as in the improperly written Afrika Korps on search engines and via online encyclopedias) was the original and more famous name for the German "Blocking Force" sent to Libya in February of 1941 during the North African Campaign of World War II. The famous force, with the short-lived name called the AFRIKAKORPS, became a major German contribution to Panzer Army Africa - Panzerarmee Afrika which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army - Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee and then to Army Group Africa - Heeresgruppe Afrika. Many historians and writers on the Western Desert Campaign, in World War II, have epitomized the 'Knights in Chariots' concept as a more chivalrous engagement of open field battle in the desert... with man and machine pitted together to do combat. Our AANA Members might initially have been drawn into the study of various aspects of this and other related elements in the campaigns, revolving around the Mediterranean, by these stories of fighting in the desert but have taken this study many levels deeper. This has become a passion to uncover hidden facts and stories of the courage and steadfast determination to fight the scourges of the environmental elements and the incredible wear and tear on both man and machine by the desert. We have dug deeper into the myth about the AFRIKAKORPS and its commander, Rommel, to realize the underpinning of truths behind the conflicting forces in the Egyptian and Libyan desert. Rommel fought not only the opposing Commonwealth forces and his own German command staff but even with his supposed Italians allies but these were the adversaries that he had successfully fought in World War One to win his Pour le Merite! "They are certainly no good at war" Erwin Rommel (referring to the Italians) "We have a very daring and skillful opponent against us. And may I say across the havoc of war, a great general." Winston Churchill (commenting on Rommel) Rommel has gained near mythical status in the literature because of his initial successes in the field from both his command leadership during the campaign of France in 1940 with his 7./PD "Ghost Division" and from February 1941 to February of 1943 in North Africa. Further expansion of this 'legend' by his being forced to take his own life after the June 22, 1944 plot against Adolph Hitler and his association with the Schwarze Kapelle or "Black Orchestra", has set his name to be recognized as a martyr against Nazism. I need not say more of what Rommel was to contend with than to simply request you to read the lunacy of his ultimate boss! "If the Germans cannot win this war, then they can rot." Adolph Hitler (To Rommel, 1943) Outside 'Web Readers' might initially think AANA Members at this website to be pro this side or another but in actuality we all might gain from the combined knowledge of our colleague's research into all aspects of the campaigns studied. Our particular level of study tries to take no value judgment into the merits or value of a "man's life" be they the Desert Rat tanker, Kiwi Rail gang member, 8th Army gunner, Indian motorcycle scout, Australian physician, Greek engineer, Polish motor sergeant, US cook, Austrian cipher-specialist, German barber, Italian medic, Maltese fisherman, French architect, Algerian metal smith, Tunisian brick mason, Libyan farmer, Egyptian weaver, Syrian driver, Palestinian printer, and etc.-etc. ad infinitum. Each civilian or soldier involved in the conflict, from peasant to commanding general, has their own unique viewpoint and personal story to tell. The combination of research and sharing of these findings or 'stories' can greatly expand the understanding of these conflicts for the reader. As to the name AFRIKAKORPS.Org and its graphic identifier...  The original AFRIKA cuff title... 
This modified form of the AFRIKAKORPS cuff title is based on a German soldier's requirement to have been stationed at least six months in this difficult theater of battle to be entitled to wear the device on his or her tunic jacket sleeve. (Those soldiers receiving any one of these awards... the Iron Cross, German Cross in gold, Goblet of Honor, or Salvor of Honor [Salvor der Ehre] or having been wounded in combat or contracting an illness which caused for evacuation also entitled the soldier to wear this device. The period of service requirement was later reduced to four months of service for those fighting in the final phases of the campaign. If killed in action the dependants received an award document!) Our members have all spent many more months than this in research into this particular venue. Be they Brit, Pole, Yank, German, French, Aussie, Austrian, Italian, Kiwi, Scot, Greek, Arab, Canadian, South African, Argentine, or Danish... they all enjoy the sharing of materials and the inherent debate about their findings to encourage growth in learning about the history of his 'fellow man' in these particular campaign research areas. Per Founding Seven AANA Member/Author "Nacht"
THE ARMED FORCES AND CIVILIANS OF EVERY COUNTRY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGN WILL 'HOPEFULLY' BE EQUALLY COVERED AND DISCUSSED!
While the web address and the graphic identifier of this site may indeed be “AFRIKAKORPS” one should not be mistaken in our leanings or intentions. The "AA" in AANA stand for "Allies" and "AFRIKAKORPS". The AANA authors are currently working on many articles covering a wide range of topics for the combatants involved in the MTO. The authors of the AANA will try to devote equal time and effort to research topics related to all of the Allied and AFRIKAKORPS attached army participants that served, fought and perished in this conflict in the North Africa and MTO Campaigns . Our objective is to research and preserve the true facts. Since we are dealing with the true facts, we will sometimes be “myth busters” in a sense. For instance, the myth of Italian cowardice has been spoken of in various forums and in printed articles and books for decades, here the true facts will be presented and discussed about the army's inherent makeup. We will show, in future articles, that the sometimes poor performance of the Italian military was not because there was a lack of Italian bravery, but rather a lack of good leadership, modern weapons, and even the separate "class" system and dichotomy of the officer's versus enlisted man Italian Army. We will do our best to try and lay this particular myth to rest, once and for all, as we will with any other myth or undeserved honor or lack of prestige 'distinction' that has been bestowed on any particular country or individuals that served with honor and distinction. Men from many countries fought and died in this 'arena' and their personal stories should preserved for future generations to understand the varied ideals for which many gave the ultimate sacrifice.
IF YOU ARE A VETERAN THAT SERVED IN THE MTO WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION
In a few weeks, the new "Public" AANA Discussion Forum will be fully up and running. In the meantime, if you are a veteran of any branch of the armed forces of any country, either Allied or Axis, that served in North Africa and the MTO, please visit our forum to be placed online within a matter of days. Let us know who you are, where and when you served and please tell us your story. Your information, from the music you listened to, the food you ate, the books, magazines and newspapers you read, your personal kit, your war stories, all of this is important to us for documenting and sharing. Your information will be collected, preserved and freely shared with all that visit the AANA site. All interested readers please do share back with us about items, materials and subjects you might deem of future or current interest. Thanks again, from all of your AANA Member Colleagues, for your reader encouragement! AANA Research Fellow "Indy'
Deutsches AFRIKAKORPS Organization
Again, the Deutsches AFRIKAKORPS, was the original German "Blocking Force" sent to Libya in February of 1941 during the North African Campaign of World War II. The force was a component element of the German contribution to Panzer Army Africa - Panzerarmee Afrika which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army - Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee and Army Group Africa - Heeresgruppe Afrika.
The AFRIKAKORPS (This is properly written in one word and not two words) was formed upon the arrival on February 12, 1941, of Gen. Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel after the German Armed Forces High Command Oberkommando des Wehrmacht/ OKW and Oberkommando des Heeres / OKH had decided to send a "blocking force" to Libya to support the failing Italian army, which had been routed by a Commonwealth Forces counter-offensive led by the British Eighth Army, in Operation Compass. The German "blocking force", commanded by Erwin Rommel, at first consisted of only the 5./leichte "AFRIKA" Panzer Regiment which was quickly cobbled together with armored equipment from the second regiment of the 3./Panzer Division which was stationed in France and various other small units attached for maintenance/repair, water purification/treatment and medical care. These elements were organized into the 5th Light Division (5./le "AFRIKA" PD) when they arrived in Africa from as early as January for some support components but the initial armored equipment arrived during the period February 10-March 12, 1941. The initial efforts by the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3, in particular, were a surprise to the Commonwealth as they had depleted their forces by sending several of their combat elements to support Greece. In late April and into May the small 5./le. "AFRIKA" or 5th Light "AFRIKA" Division was joined by transference of the various elements constituting the 15./PD or 15th Panzer Division from Italy, though it did not completely arrive until after Rommel had made a counter-offensive and re-taken most of Cyrenaica. The AFRIKAKORPS had subsequently gone back over to a defensive posture to unify his forces and to reconstitute by reinforcements his corps. Part of the 15./PD and in particular one of its early arrival elements, the 15./Kradschützen Battalion, had been instrumental in the support of Rommel's battlefield activities in late April through May of 1941. At this timeframe through the spring and summer of 1941, the German elements of the AFRIKAKORPS consisted of only these two divisions plus various smaller supporting units, and were 'officially' subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa (though Rommel had conducted this initial offensive without proper authorization from his superiors including his direct authority Field Marshall Kesselring and his short lived Italian commander, Marshall Graziani, in North Africa... whom was shot down and killed by his own Italian anti-aircraft fire while flying into Tripoli!).
During the summer of 1941 OKW and Oberkommando des Heeres / OKH invested more command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). In August, 1941, the German 5th Light Division (5./le. "AFRIKA" PD) was redesignated 21st Panzer Division or commonly written as 21./PD, still attached to the now enlarged entity but still known as the AFRIKAKORPS. On August 15 Panzer Group Africa was activated with Rommel in command, and command of the AFRIKAKORPS was turned over to Ludwig Crüwell. The "Panzer Group Africa" controlled the AFRIKAKORPS plus some additional German units that were sent to Africa, as well as two corps of Italian units. (A German "group" was approximately the equivalent of an army in other militaries, and in fact Panzer Group Africa was redesignated as German Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) on January 30, 1942.) Rommel was also promoted to the rank of Field Marshall. The story of the AFRIKAKORPS and the North African Campaign is often told more simply as a series of commanders on both sides that were either replaced, captured or killed. We will share this understanding but also give the reader materials on the equipment in service and the simple soldier as well. An understanding of the politics and people that live in this region is of utmost necessity to grasp the basis of why the conflict even came to this region.
After the defeat of the German and Italian forces at El Alamein, in November of 1942 and the near simultaneous Allied invasion in Morocco and Algeria with Operation Torch landings on November 8, 1942 the OKW once more was forced to increase its presence in Africa by creating the XC Army Corps in Tunisia on November 19, 1942, and then creating a new 5th Panzer Army headquarters there as well on December 8, 1942 under the command of Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim. On February 23, 1943 Panzer Army Africa, (now called the German-Italian Panzer Army,) was redesignated as the Italian 1st Army and put under the command of Italian general Giovanni Messe, while Rommel was placed in command of a new Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika) created to control both the Italian 1st Army and the 5th Panzer Army. The remnants of the AFRIKAKORPS and other surviving units of the 1st Italian Army retreated into Tunisia. Command of the Army Group was turned over to von Arnim in March. On May 12-13, 1943 remnants of the AFRIKAKORPS along with all other remaining Axis forces in North Africa surrendered. Strictly speaking the term "AFRIKAKORPS" refers to the original "Blocking force" which became part of the expanded German and Italian presence in North Africa. However it is sometimes used by the news media and veteran Allied soldiers as a name for all the German units in North Africa before the retreat into Tunisia. Some notable attached units include the 15./PD -15th Panzer Division, 21./PD-21st Panzer Division, Sonderkomando z.b.V.288 and attachment to "Afrika' zbV ("special purpose") which was created as an infantry unit and slowly upgraded and had elements attached to a fully motorized division, and then redesignated as the 90./le "AFRIKA"-90th Light Afrika Division; the 164./le "AFRIKA" 164th Light Afrika Division, the 999./le "AFRIKA" - 999 Light "AFRIKA" Division, also the 334th Infantry division; and the Luftwaffenjäger-Brigade 1 or Fallschirmjäger-Ramcke Brigade or often referred to as the Ramcke Parachute Brigade (named after its commander... Gerhard Ramcke) just to name a few. There were also eight Italian divisions (of ten in NA service) under Rommel's command in Panzer Army Afrika, including two armored divisions, two motorized divisions, three infantry divisions, and the Folgore parachute division. The army was supported by a number of smaller units from both the German and Italian armed forces.
The designation "Light" (German: Leichte) did not refer to a standardized table of organization and equipment (TOE) for the various German divisions that bore that designation. German unit organizations were based on tables of organization, (Kriegsstärkenachweisungen or KStN). Every unit in the German Army raised had one, and all orders raising units indicated the corresponding KStN number and date which applied to them but the equipment standards and inclusions varied widely.
For instance, the 5th Light Division and the other 'leichte' units had an organization that was missing elements to make it a completed 'division' (21./PD lacked a complete Kradschützen Battalion for example and other elements) and it eventually became reinforced into the 21st Panzer Division-21./PD (never actually received the KStN for a standardized German Army Division), whereas the 164th Light Afrika Division-164./le "AFRIKA" was at first a partially motorized infantry division and never had tanks but only armored cars and reconnaissance vehicles or what they 'acquired'. Various German divisions in Africa occasionally reorganized or re-equipped without a change of name, or conversely were redesignated with a new name without any substantial reorganization. None of the German Armies fielded for service in North Africa completely met the service KStN's directed for their completion because of battle losses, sinkings across the Mediterranean while in transit and the tremendous wear of the desert environment. "Nacht"
AANA/MTO Campaign Research Group
What is the AANA Organization and What are its 'Core Values'?
The Fascist and Nazi regimes of Italy and Germany are long gone, replaced by democracies which are our friends and allies! We cannot forget the atrocities but need to forgive and forget as more than a half century has passed! (U.S. C.I.A.) "The diversity of our collective group is our greatest strength!", Per "Indy" AANA Moderator Member The "AANA" is a somewhat 'rebellious' collective of historical authors, researchers and enthusiasts that are combining their mutual 'love' of the historical subjects involved in the related campaigns of politics, men, material and war revolving around the Mediterranean Sea during World War Two. We are not an unbiased group! Each member has his own stint, viewpoints and a particular dedication to their own particular subject matters of interest. AANA Members use our collective membership to be a mutual sounding board and a rather unique system of checks and balances against each member's research findings for future publication. This system employed by our membership collective is to simply share our findings and uncover facts about particular events, people and equipment that our collective can then review and add to their personal knowledge base. Sharing within our diverse member group and their various countries of origin is the hallmark of success within our group. At the forefront, our members do heartily agree on this core or fundamental value: The soldier's story needs to be recorded and archived for future generations with no relevance to the country from which he fought and that foremost in our hearts, we both individually and as a group, will not tolerate bigotry or hatred of our fellow man because of his religion, country of origin, nor even his political beliefs! Per the AANA
Why AFRIKAKORPS.Org? Because it is the "NEW" Web Home of the "AANA" Research Group
AANA's "Collective" Purpose
"We are after-all, about answering questions." , per "Dan" AANA Moderator Member"Many of the faces of war become nameless and we simply try to connect a name and his story to the face." per "Nacht" AANA Founding Seven Member "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" or "Freedom, Equality, Fraternity/Brotherhood" as France proposed in 1790 so does the AANA in 2007! per "13emeDBLE" AANA Founding Seven Member The AANA Organization and its collected website references are only a part of the group's activities. To say we research the 'subject' is true but we also help to identify, verify and validate photographs, military records and additionally the equipment, men, materials, and locations from our member collected resources or donated/purchased materials. This is an effort to better 'nail' down some major misconceptions about the campaign. This was a battle fought, with what would be considered, a small force for both sides of the conflict as compared to later battles in the war. The struggle itself was fought across a wide area of distance and with some of the harshest obstacles of climate and geography on our planet. Some examples... Temperature extremes of ~130 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and to near freezing at night... Sandstorms were called simoon (sîmūn, sîmūn) for Saharan sand / dust storms or ghibli (gib-lee) for the Italian word for hot wind from the Sahara Desert... and also known as jibli or khamsin... Poisonous snakes, scorpions, spiders, and even plants... From sand that acted like quicksand to sink a vehicle or with often a thin crusty layer to break through and rocks so sharp as to cut tires... the native trigh (desert tracks) A narrow farming corridor along the coast and the Mediterranean Sea gives way to an open sand nothingness with some rising djebels (escarpments) or jagged sedimentary outcroppings.... But the physically draining desert heat with its associated constant thirst and the poor rations... 1 or 2 liter of 'sweet' water a day as rations and the soldier in the field could easily sweat out 2-3 liters per day! The lack of proper hygiene, wherein a simple scrape or cut could easily become badly infected... A shovel and a stroll for relief of bodily functions... as they did not have "port-a-potties" on the battlefield... Reissen und scheissen — Slang for aches and bowel runs! DAK reports show that troops had only 8-28% of the necessary toilet paper request for the North African Campaign.... much less even than their lack of tires and 'spares' or ammo and gasoline! The flies... ask any veteran about the flies!
To collect and share this information is a passion for our research / author members and we hope you will be participants in the journey of investigation to better knowledge about the entirety of the various aspects in this segment of World War Two.
Changes and Additions:
Last Edited Revisions & Additions: 15-Jul-2008 10:45:36 PM -0500 AANA Internal Review Pages NEW: Great Addition With Even More Added to Allied Colors Military Vehicle Markings / Ongoing Colorization Project from MechInfAANA "PRIVATE" Research Fellows Review for Later Publication : (Report From 13emeDBLE) Aris : Writing Brief on Commonwealth Air Forces in the Western Desert Christian (Mogdala) : Mainly collecting materials and pictures of Sonderverband 287/288 - Panzerjäger and self propelled guns like BISON II
Christian (QuietGargoyle) : Studying & Collecting structure and orders of battle of 5. Leichte-division / 21. Panzer-division
Cédric (13emeDBLE) : Completing his work on DAK's 1942 campaign (looking for pictures for publications, that's urgent !) and after : project of article on the Heavy artillery of DAK
Mario (CMPacione) : Completing his huge collection of picture from DAK and Italian army for Catalogue posting to his AFRIKAKORPS.Org Website Section
Danny : Making line drawings and colouring in vehicle profiles (completing US & UK M4A1 side profile and currently doing the front and back profiles) and also working with Nacht, Petr & MechInf on Sherman’s colors variants. Ready to help everybody on making special profiles if time permitting. Working up a Valentine & Bishop line drawing set for colour profiles to explain photographs...
David : Effort to create the best ever wargame to ever be built around the Desert War 10/06/40 - 31/10/42, and so being stuck on O.o.B & TO&E for about 17years ! Building AFRIKAKORPS.Org Web page insert for every Batallion sized Unit in NA.
Prop : DAK's operation and also Polish unit involved in North African (Polish Carpathian's Brigade)
Human : DAK's vehicles (soft-skinned or armoured)
Indy : Mark is adding and reviewing Nacht's Introductional Overview of the Western Desert Campaign to include additional Italian, & Commonwealth elements. Building wargames database, listing of titles and other info for any and all games dealing with the Med and NA Theatres. Will re-contact game publishers again after the info is on the site to try and establish commission sales links with them. Also currently working on building a "Songs of the Desert" page.
Future Planned Work: Creating a "Life in the Desert" page. Planning to assist David with OOB and other info for the NA Campaign from El Alamein to the Fall of Tunisia. Collecting additional info for an Air Unit Database which will be a listing (and additional info) of all "squadron" sized units that served in the Med. Far in the future looking at the possibility of a database of ships that served in the Med.
Jan (Fezzo) : working on the history of the "Meßstelle Weiß"( measuring unit of Art.rgt.33), where we got a complete diary of their activities with letters and a few maps from a member during the timeframe March 1941-August 1942 (He wrote a letter every 2-3 days). Waiting for the complete KTB of the 15.PD ordered from the US-Archive for inclusion here. Working with Nacht on completing s.Mot.Art.Abt.408 unit markings write-up with the assistance of the widow of Dr. Boeckmann, his grandson and an AANA photo-share contributor!!! Jon (JonG): Searching on the WWII campaign in the Mediterranean Islands and also on LRDG & SAS operations with some emphasis on Rhodes. Extensive work on the logistics and rail / shipping operations side of campaign in North Africa and around the Med.
Marco (Rodion) : Translating an extensive Italian article on their license plates and the correlation to vehicle types. Building a NachtJagd in the Mediterranean presentation plus an in depth article on the Ju-88 in use and around the Med.MechInf : William is progressing on Colours and markings North Africa - writing a book on Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars - writing a book - nearly completed 6 SA Armoured Division in Italy - writing a book (quite advanced) South African Orbats WW2 - about halfway with this book. Then other general interests: All things armour.
Nacht: Tiger's in Africa book to publisher (645 pages), Rommel's Rides to publisher, Allied Markings of the Desert in revision at page 490 as have added Getty Collection inclusions, plus confirmation field order document sets from Patton Museum, West Point Library and Eisenhower Library received for inclusion with three way confirmation of orders. Working through Sherman Family Illustration series and also, Valentine, Bishop, Crusader, Churchill, Lee, Grant, Stuart, Jeep, Kubelwagen, Panzerkampfwagens I-VI, Sd.Kfz221-223, Sd.Kfz.250 & Sd.Kfz.251 Families.
Petr : Reviewing photographs with "N" on Sherman's markings and colors. Compiling Rainbow Colors Proof Photo research set.
Fran1942: collecting materials and pictures of DAK and putting together materials for "Collector's Corner" and also finishing his DAK Photo Album. Waiting for Nacht's Storyboard for Action Script Introduction code. Shane L : DAK Campaigns and research into MTO field orders & intelligence briefs... Newest AANA Member Additions: Stefan Keuss from Austria (Researcher into GJR 756 or the 756 Gebirgsjäger Regiment) and Great-Grandson of Lt. Col. Hans Hörtnagl the last regimental commander of the unit until its surrender in Tunisia. Stefan has seriously researched the activities, personnel, men & material for this unit and other mountain troops sent to the North African Campaign. Richard Woods from England (Researcher and Illustrator of Markings for Personnel and & Equipment) is a freelance illustrator and Comics' artist. Richard has been the resident artist of the Military Society for over twenty years, a society member for even longer. He's illustrated a large number of articles for the society magazine and written several on the subject of British formation signs with his main field of study in formation signs and unit emblems. Richard is a regular visitor to the Public Record Office at Kew and to the IWM and National Army Museum. Richard is currently working on a book, or series of books on German Truppenkennzeichen of World War 2. Richard's first Comics' work was published back in 1988 and he's taught the subject in the local college since 1997. Most Recent "PUBLIC" Web Pages Added: Italian Battalions: Part1, Morris Armoured Cars, Marmon-Herrington, British AFV Colors (Initial Colour Chart "Originals"), US AFV Colors, U.K. Sherman, U.S. Sherman, AANA Author Focus, Sherman Flail, Bishop TriColors'Continuing' Nacht's Niche Bibliography Scanning Challenge! Trying to Add 25 Titles Per Day (NACHT)... slowed a bit! AFRIKAKORPS.Org/AANA Forum Coming Very Soon!!! Community Server 2008 Added!!! Media Stream Server: Now On Line! See more at... AFRIKAKORPS News NEW Test Game: DAK Attack! from AANA Research Fellow "Fran1942" at AANA Games/Gadgets Corrections (Errata), Modified and Added: AEC Dorchester Armoured Command Vehicle (ACV) / Mammoth or Mammut, Model Kit Reviews, AFRIKAKORPS/AANA Weblinks, Wüstennot: Desert Rescue, Humor & Bad Taste, Fezzo's Fixers: New Include "WEISS" Beobachtungs Gruppe, Forces Françaises Libres /Free French Forces, Collectables, Ritterkreuz Holders NA, Indy’s Game Reserve: The AANA Database of Wargames of the MTO, Autoblinda AB40/41/42, US JEEP, Desert Dolphin "Matilda", Matilda Scorpion, Collectables, LRDG/SAS, Patton, Grant Scorpion, U.K./Commonwealth Sherman, War Movies, Dreaded 88, Bishop, US Types, US AFV Colors, Model Kit Reviews, "Searchlight": Scheinwerfer, Italian AFV Types, Camionetta Sahariana AS42, British Types, & AFRIKAKORPS Media Folder Optimization and Redo of Page index Format in Progress... Completed the recalculation of all website hyperlinks to correct errors... AANA Public & Private Community Server 2008 Forum In Place on AFRIKAKORPS.Org Web Server NEW AANA/AFRIKAKORPS.Org Forum will be added when Language Pack Additions are released... so check back for information on public release for admission to this new forum!!!  RSS Feed for some sample pages of the web site...
"Rainbow Colors" U.S. Army / U. S. Produced AFV's (Nacht - B. G. Eady Research... Another Myth Busting for AFV Colors and Markings... not all US vehicles were OD and in fact... far from it!!!) Many American produced AFV's from Stuarts, Lee/Grants, Shermans, Chaffees, Staghounds, etc. had the above mentioned Black outlined Rainbow Color linear or box 'bars' or 'stripes' of color on entire surfaces or only edge elements. This is confirmed on all of the mentioned types and even on vehicles sent as lend-lease to the British or French!!! So to rewrite the color's books armor fans... here I go to destroy some of the old notions and paint concept ideas! This is at least before the true credit of the discovery and research study is not given to me for locating the information and proofs when someone else steals or borrows this research to claim it as their own!!! Know now all readers it is from here that this material is derived! British armor writers & enthusiasts need to go back to Primary photographs and not rewrite what others have stated in the past or use low resolution photographic reprints... as the markings portrayed on many AFV's & Soft skins is NOT a Red/White Red RTR flash as has been stated to be the RTR marking of choice! It was actually a marking initially composed of nine Primary Colored vertical bars (or more)... and was a commonly painted marking that is sometimes then later over-washed/painted with a Tri-Color in Blue/White/Red or Red/White/Blue dependant on the location of the marking on the vehicle. This is actually a quite common marking for all Allied Vehicles participating in the later stages of the campaign in Algeria and Tunisia into Sicily and Italy.... The "Rainbow Colors" of Black outlined Stripes and Boxes of the colors described were used on these vehicles from the point of production in Spring (April) 1942- late into the winter of 1944/1945... vehicles that survived longer retained the colors and even when these "Rainbow Colors" are over-painted they sometimes 'bleed' through from abrasion or wear and tear. A crew walking around on a tank or the stowage rubs through the overcoats of paint... and the actual thickness of the Black outline shows through a sprayed on overcoat of OD or multi-color camouflage scheme. This Rainbow Stripe Color scheme was also painted on nearly all of the Stuarts, Lee/Grants and Shermans sent to the British from mid-1942 to the Jan-Feb. timeframe of 1944!!! So again to the so-called British Color/Paint "experts"... sorry but your previous research is seriously flawed! I'll present a piece of the foundational materials shortly... to prove my point... but please other authors do not take credit for what you did not know nor understand until I point it out to you! NACHT 
NACHT's Tunisian Sherman Colors an introduction to the materials uncovered at bottom of US Shermans page... RAINBOW COLORED SHERMANS... NACHT Then the British Rainbow Colors... it is NOT an RTR Flash! 
Note the Rainbow Color Bars under the SAMSON and when viewed in a low resolution or normal printed media format of Black and White quite commonly looks like a three color flash of dark/light/dark. With closer or higher resolution examination, many of these actually have subcomponent color element bars comprising the stated single color component that is not seen in low resolution and have been misidentified for years in every form of book, decal sheet or illustration for many vehicles which actually had this Rainbow Color Bar marking instead of the described RTR Flash! The misinformation about the purported Red/White/Red RTR flash being exclusively used has been repeated to the point of myth. In fact, many British/Commonwealth AFV aficionados actually get angry when you tell them point blank that they are incorrect in regards to the marking's component for many vehicles investigated to date! To complicate this even more, many times the Rainbow Colored Bars were even partially overpainted to meet field orders/directives or unit commander directives from on high. Thus we have the Red/White/Blue or Blue/White/Red colors as called a Tri-Color in various large & small or even horizontal or vertical forms or locations being painted on AFV's and soft skins. The field orders came from Eisenhower's ~ U.S. Command Staff and being duly applied to meet the political demands cited for incursion into French territory in Morocco and Algeria for Operation Torch. Since many explanations of the use of colors and markings of British vehicles came from British Authors there seems to be a myopic understanding of whom they were actually subordinated to in the command structure. We can play "point~counterpoint" but it was the Americans and this appears to have gone against the grain of researching into the US application orders for all vehicles (including British/Commonwealth) entering into French held Vichy Territory! This is very similar to the common error described in many texts / books / articles / etc. in identifying the White/Red/White recognition marking adopted for Operation CRUSADER (in late 1941) as an RTR flash. Again, going back to the White/Red/White markings used on many British tanks for the Royal Tank Regiments in World War I as this has commonly been stated in the literature to be the reinstitution of the old RTR flash... but this is not an RTR flash either! AFRIKAKORPS Web Links: Webmaster, if you want your website to be added in a reference web link please submit request. Web site contact Nacht, Dan or Fezzo
AANA's "WARNING" & "CONTRACT"
WARNING !!!, "The Fine Print"... Revised May 8, 2008 To ANY and ALL web viewers that might be offended by seeing a "real" photograph and the actual symbols employed on personnel, vehicles or aircraft; you must be warned that we do not sensor any motif or motto employed in a photograph. The material's portrayal herein at this website are the actual research findings and we do not condone nor proffer any fascist activity nor any racial or human prejudice." per 'Fezzo' - AANA Founding Seven Member This website's inclusions are NOT a part of the PUBLIC DOMAIN, unless so marked, and not for any other party's commercial use without written agreement and payment for their use. The property contained herein, termed 'intellectual property' is owned by its members or cited contributors. The presentation of this 'intellectual property' at another web location by copying or hotlinking, in printed form, or the 'borrowing' of photographs, graphic images, written materials or any intellectual property contained in this website is hereby considered a legally binding contract or if not paid for in the prescribed period after user's bill and demand for remittance of payment this will then clearly be considered copyright infringement and to also be deemed as a "theft of services". This contract will remain in force via use of this website unless hereby modified and the unauthorized user will thereby be billed at an appropriate monetary compensation rate for all materials used. If any unauthorized user is found to have 'borrowed' materials contained herein, the duration of use and the number of views or unauthorized illegal copies will be determined for appropriate billed use fees and the AANA will send the 'unauthorized user' a billing statement for the appropriate billed "use" balance and expect full payment within 30 days. Theft of services is dealt with quite harshly and the infringement of both intellectual property and copyrights has been scoffed at by some on the internet but we will pursue criminal prosecution for the theft of ours or the loaned assets from other presenter's property shown on these pages. As an example when you pay $2400 for the use of one color photo from the Getty Collection on these pages for a period of a single year you might get a correlation for what the inappropriate use of this website's inclusions will cost you if you borrow without our required written permission! We as a group hate to be this hard core about this set of rules but we have to be fixed in our requirements to protect both our authors and contributors. We can and will be most happy to assist with the acquiral of 'use rights' for photographic inclusions shown in our collected but modified web format images shown on these pages. Some original photographs are housed in museum collections and others are 'privately' owned and these are deemed the property of the 'copyright' holder. Even eBay photographs and maps purchased by our AANA members that are displayed on other websites will be considered an unfair use of our collective 'property' and those 'users' will be billed accordingly for their use. So that this is fully clear, if you do not want to pay for the 'use rights' to any of the photographs, materials or intellectual property from our AANA collection then do not 'borrow' them from this website nor an AANA acquired item from an eBay auction or other source. We have had to either pay for the use of the images from either the primary sources or purchased the images for use in production or actually own the 'public domain' documents, the originals and/or negatives. Some items were collected by our AANA Members from Veteran pool's of photographs from the 40's to the 90's and as such might seem similar to those housed in other collections but have been duly marked with our watermark. If you want to link to or use any materials from this site then simply get written approval first. The AANA attempts to acquire documents, photos and images in order to preserve, conserve and protect the legacy. This AANA activity also prevents them from going into solely private collections where they may never again see the light of day and fellow researchers lose access to the valuable resource. We also aim to provide a place where veterans and the families of veterans of the North Africa and MTO Campaigns, from any branch of service or country, can donate their photos, documents, and materials where they will be used and made public rather than disappearing into the closet of a militaria collector or into the vaults of a museum. Altho |
